Aurora: Lift gag order in theater shooting case

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In this July 23, 2012 file photo, James E. Holmes appears in Arapahoe County District Court in Centennial, Colo.

DENVER (AP) — The City of Aurora has asked a judge to lift a gag order preventing officials from discussing the July 20 attack at a movie theater that left 12 dead and 70 injured.

In court papers filed Tuesday and made public Wednesday, an attorney for the city said officials have received several requests from police and fire departments for briefings and tips on how they managed the attack on a midnight screening of "The Dark Knight Rises."

The city also noted that it has received public records requests from media, academics and individuals around the world.

Judge William Sylvester imposed a gag order three days after the shooting that prevents all parties in the case form releasing information. Accused gunman James Holmes is due to be arraigned in March on 166 felony counts for the massacre.

The city argued that the gag order is moot after prosecutors revealed details of their case against Holmes in a three-day hearing last week. Sylvester found that the evidence was strong enough to make Holmes stand trial.

Martha L. Fitzgerald, attorney for the city, argued that officials should at least be allowed to release recordings of 911 calls from the attack that were played in court last week and to discuss the response to the shooting.